Drug use and crime

At the time of the offense

Drug-related crime

In 2004, 17% of state prisoners and 18% of federal inmates said they
committed their current offense to obtain money for drugs. These percentages
represent a slight increase for federal
prisoners (16% in 1997) and a slight decrease for state prisoners (19% in 1997).

In 2002 about a quarter of convicted property and drug offenders in local jails had
committed their crimes to get money for drugs, compared to 5% of violent
and public order offenders. Among state prisoners in 2004 the pattern was similar, with property (30%) and drug offenders (26%) more likely to commit their crimes for drug money than violent (10%) and public-order offenders (7%). In federal prisons property offenders (11%) were less than half as likely as drug offenders (25%) to report drug money as a motive in their offenses.

Percent of prison and jail inmates who committed offense to get money for drugs

The Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) reported that in 2007, 3.9% of the 14,831 homicides in which circumstances
were known were narcotics related. Murders that occurred specifically
during a narcotics felony, such as drug trafficking or manufacturing,
are considered drug related.

Drug-related homicides

Year

Number
of homicides

Percent
drug related

1987

17,963

4.9

%

1988

17,971

5.6

1989

18,954

7.4

1990

20,273

6.7

1991

21,676

6.2

1992

22,716

5.7

1993

23,180

5.5

1994

22,084

5.6

1995

20,232

5.1

1996

16,967

5.0

1997

15,837

5.1

1998

14,276

4.8

1999

13,011

4.5

2000

13,230

4.5

2001

14,061

4.1

2002

14,263

4.7

2003

14,465

4.7

2004

14,210

3.9

2005

14,965

4.0

2006

15.087

5.3

2007

14,831

3.9

Note: The percentages are based on data from the Supplementary Homicide
Reports (SHR) while the totals are from the Uniform Crime Reports
(UCR). Not all homicides in the UCR result in reports in the SHR.
Source: Table constructed by ONDCP Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse
staff from FBI, Uniform Crime Reports, Crime
in the United States, annually.

Offenders under the influence at the time of the offense

Victim's perception

According to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), in 2007,
there were 5.2 million violent victimizations of residents age 12 or older.
Victims of violence were asked to describe whether they perceived the
offender to have been drinking or using drugs.

About 26% of the victims of violence reported that the offender was
using drugs or alcohol.

Overall 41% of violent crimes committed against college students and
38% of nonstudents were committed by an offender perceived to be using
drugs, 1995-2000. About 2 in 5 of all rape/sexual assaults and about a
quarter of all robberies against a college student were committed by an
offender perceived to be using drugs.

Among victims of violence who were able to describe alcohol or drug use
by offenders, American Indians (71%) were more likely than any other racial
group to report an offender under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Overall, American Indian victims reported alcohol use by 62% of the offenders,
compared to 42% for all races. In violent crimes experienced by American
Indians where use was known, 48% of the offender was under the influence
of alcohol, 9% were under the influence of drugs, or 14% were under the
influence of both.

Violent victimization, by the perceived drug or alcohol use of the offender
and by race of victim, 1992-2001

Perceived drug or alcohol
use by offender

Race of victim

Total

Alcohol

Drugs

Both

Neither

Total

100

%

33

%

10

%

9

%

49

%

American Indian

100

48

9

14

29

White

100

34

9

9

49

Black

100

26

11

9

55

Asian

100

27

8

6

60

Note: Percents refer to the annual average for 1992-2001. Table excludes
those respondents who were unable to report whether or not they perceived
the offender to have been using drugs or alcohol.
Source: BJS, American Indians
and Crime, 1992-2002, NCJ 203097, December 2004.

Prisoners

In the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities,
32% of state prisoners and 26% of federal prisoners said they had committed
their current offense while under the influence of drugs. Among state prisoners, drug offenders
(44%) and property offenders (39%) reported the highest incidence of drug
use at the time of the offense. Among federal prisoners, drug offenders (32%) and violent offenders (24%) were the most likely to report drug use at the time of their crimes.

About 74% of state prisoners who had a mental health problem and 56% of those without were dependent on or abused alcohol or drugs. By specific type of substance, inmates who had a mental health problem had higher rates of dependence or abuse of drugs than alcohol. Among state prisoners who had a mental health problem, 62% were dependent on or abused drugs and 51% alcohol.

Over a third (37%) of state prisoners who had a mental health problem said they had used drugs at the time of the offense, compared to over a quarter (26%) of state prisoners without a mental problem.

Abused state inmates were more likely than those reporting no abuse
to have been using illegal drugs at the time of their offense. This pattern
occurred especially among female inmates. Forty-six percent of the abused
women committed their current offense under the influence of illegal drugs.
Among women who were not abused, 32% committed their offense while on
drugs.

A third of the parents in state prison reported committing their current
offense while under the influence of drugs. Parents were most likely to
report the influence of cocaine-based drugs (16%) and marijuana (15%)
while committing their crime. About equal percentages of parents in state
prison reported the use of opiates (6%) and stimulates (5%) at the time
of their offense, while 2% used depressants or hallucinogens.

Thirty-two percent of mothers in state prison reported committing their
crime to get drugs or money for drugs, compared to 19% of fathers.

Jail inmates

Of inmates held in jail, only convicted offenders were asked if they
had used drugs at the time of the offense. In 2002, 29% of convicted inmates
reported they had used illegal drugs at the time of the offense, down
from 35% in 1996.

Marijuana and cocaine or crack were the most common drugs convicted inmates
said they had used at the time of the offense --

14% had used marijuana in 2002, down from 18% in 1996.

11% had used cocaine or crack, down from 14% in 1996.

In 2002, jail inmates convicted of robbery (56%), weapons violations
(56%), burglary (55%), or motor vehicle theft (55%) were most likely to
have reported to be using drugs at the time of the offense.

Seventy-six percent of jail inmates who had a mental health problem were dependent on or abused alcohol or drugs, compared to 53% of inmates without a mental health problem. This was the highest rate of substance dependence or abuse among all inmates, including state and federal prisoners.

By specific type of substance, jail inmates who had a mental health problem had higher rates of dependence or abuse of drugs than alcohol. An estimated 63% of local jail inmates who had a mental health problem were dependent on or abused drugs, while about 53% were dependent on or abused alcohol. Over a third (34%) of local jail inmates who had a mental health problem said they had used drugs at the time of the offense, compared to a fifth (20%) of jail inmates without a mental problem.

In 1995 adults age 44 years old or younger on probation (87% of all probationers)
reported similar levels of prior drug abuse, and their incidence of drug
use was consistently higher than that of older probationers. Over 70% of
probationers under age 45 reported some prior drug use, compared to 37%
of those age 45 or older. Thirty-five percent of probationers under age
45 -- but 9% of older probationers -- reported drug use in the month before
their offense.

Two-thirds of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) offenders on probation
reported using drugs in the past. Among DWI probationers, marijuana (65%)
and stimulants (29%) were the most commonly used drugs. Seventeen percent
of those on probation reported drug use in the month prior to arrest.

Prior drug use reported by probationers

Percent
of probationers

Level of prior drug use

DWI
offenders

Other
offenders

Ever
used drugs/a

67.9

%

69.9

%

Marijuana/hashish

64.6

67.2

Cocaine/crack

28.1

31.7

Heroin/opiates

5.7

8.8

Depressants/b

14.6

15.6

Stimulants/c

28.5

24.4

Hallucinogens/d

19.9

19.6

Ever used drugs regularly/e

55.6

%

64.2

%

Used drugs in month before arrest

16.6

%

35.7

%

Used drugs at time of arrest

3.3

%

16.1

%

a/Other unspecified drugs are included in the totals.
b/Includes barbiturates, tranquilizers, and Quaaludes.
c/Includes amphetamines and methamphetamines.
d/Includes LSD and PCP.
e/Used drugs at least once a week for at least a month.
Source: BJS, DWI Offenders under Correctional Supervision,
NCJ 172212, June 1999.

Among DWI offenders, the most commonly reported experience associated
with drug use was domestic disputes:

19% of probationers said they had arguments with their family, friends,
spouse, or boyfriend/girlfriend while under the influence of drugs.

About 1 in 10 of those on probation for DWI had been arrested or held
in a police station as a result of their drug use.

3% of those on probation had lost a job because of their drug use.

8% of those on probation said they had been in a physical fight while
under the influence of drugs.

Jail inmates

More than two-thirds of local jail inmates (68%) were found to be dependent
on drugs or alcohol or abusing them, according to a 2002 survey of men
and women held in local jails.

The rate of substance dependence or abuse varied by gender, race, and
offense:

44% of men and 52% of women were dependent on drugs or alcohol.

78% of white, 64% of black, and 59% of Hispanic inmates were dependent
on drugs or alcohol or abusing them.

Inmates convicted of burglary had the highest rate of substance dependence
or abuse (85%), followed by inmates convicted of DWI/DUI (82%), weapons
violations (79%), and drug possession (75%).

The lowest rate of substance dependence or abuse was among inmates
convicted of sexual assault (50%).

Of those inmates held in local jails, only convicted offenders were asked
if they had used drugs in the time leading up to their current offense.
In 2002, 55% of convicted jail inmates reported they had used illegal
drugs during the month before their offense, unchanged from 1996.

marijuana use in the month before the offense increased from 36% to
37%;

stimulants increased from 10% to 11%; and

cocaine or crack use decreased from 23% to 21%.

A higher percentage of jail inmates in 2002 than in 1996 reported regular
drug use (used drugs at least once a week for at least a month).

a/Includes all inmates with a current conviction or with a prior conviction,
but no new conviction for the current charge.
b/Used drugs at least once week for a month.
c/Includes barbiturates, tranquilizers, and Quaaludes.
d/Includes amphetamines and methamphetamines.
e/Includes LSD, Ecstasy, and PCP.
Source: BJS, Substance Dependence,
Abuse, and Treatment of Jail Inmates, 2002, NCJ 209588,
July 2005.

Over three-quarters of DWI offenders in jail reported using drugs in
the past. Among jail inmates held for DWI, marijuana (73%) and cocaine-based
drugs including crack (41%) were the most commonly used drugs. Thirty
percent of those in jail reported drug use in the month prior to arrest.

Domestic disputes were also one of the most commonly reported experiences
associated with drug use:

25% of jail inmates said they had arguments with their family, friends,
spouse, or boyfriend/girlfriend while under the influence of drugs.

Nearly 1 in 5 of those in jail for DWI had been arrested or held in
a police station as a result of their drug use.

About 10% of DWI offenders in jail had lost a job because of their
drug use.

About 15% of jail inmates said they had been in a physical fight while
under the influence of drugs.

In the month before the offense, 82% of jail inmates who had a mental health problem, compared to 70% of those without, had used alcohol or drugs. By specific type of substance, jail inmates who had a mental health problem had higher rates of alcohol use in the month before the offense than drug use. Among local jail inmates who had a mental health problem, 81% reported alcohol use in the month before the offense and 62% drug use.

Inmates who had a mental health problem had higher rates of drug use in the month before the offense, compared to those without a mental problem. More than 6 in 10 jail inmates with a mental problem had used drugs in the month before the offense, compared to slightly more than 4 in 10 inmates without a mental problem. Marijuana was the most common drug inmates said they had used in the month before the offense.

Among jail inmates who had a mental health problem, in the month before the offense:

State and Federal prison inmates

In 1991, 60% of federal prisoners reported prior drug use, compared to
79% of state prisoners. In 1997 this gap in prior drug use was narrowed,
as the percentage of federal inmates reporting past drug use rose to 73%,
compared to 83% of state inmates. By 2004 this gap was almost closed, as state prisoner reports of lifetime drug use stayed at 83%, while federal inmates rose to 79%. This increase was mostly due to a rise
in the percentage of federal prisoners reporting prior use of marijuana
(from 53% in 1991 to 71% in 2004), cocaine/crack (from 37% in
1991 to 44% in 2004), and hallucinogens (from 15% in 1991 to 26% in 2004).

The proportion of state prison inmates reporting the past use of cocaine
or crack declined slightly between 1997 (49%) and 2004 (47%). Marijuana use (78%) remained stable since 1997 (77%), and remained
the most commonly used drug. Past use of opiates, including heroin (23%) remained almost unchanged since 1997 (24%). Past use of methamphetamine rose from 19% in 1997 to 23% in 2004.

Although the proportion of federal prisoners held for drug offenses dropped
from 63% in 1997 to 55% in 2004, the percentage of all federal inmates
who reported using drugs in the month before the offense rose
from 45% to 50%.

Nineteen percent of state inmates told interviewers that they had been
physically or sexually abused before their current offense. For state
prisoners reporting prior abuse, 89% had ever used illegal drugs: 76%
of the men and 80% of the women had used them regularly. Of those not
reporting prior abuse, 82% had used illegal drugs: 68% of the men and
65% of the women had used them regularly.

Illegal drug use was more common among abused state prison inmates than
among those who said they were not abused. An estimated 76% of abused
men and 80% of abused women had used illegal drugs regularly, compared
to 68% of men and 65% of women who had not been abused.

Current and past violent offenses and past drug use, by whether abused
before admission to state prison, 1997

About 8 in 10 state prisoners who had a mental health problem said they had used alcohol or drugs in the month before the offense, compared to 7 in 10 without a mental problem. State prisoners who had a mental health problem had similar rates of drug (63%) or alcohol (62%) use in the month before the offense.

State prisoners who had a mental health problem (62%) had a higher rate of drug use in the month offense compared to those without a mental health problem (49%). Marijuana was the most common drug inmates said they had used in the month before the offense.

Among state prisoners who had a mental health problem, in the month before the offense:

In 1997 a majority of parents in state prison reported some type of prior
drug use --

85% reported any past drug use

58% reported use in the month before the current offense.

Nonparents in state prison reported slightly lower levels of prior drug
use --

80% reported any past drug use

55% reported use in the month before the current offense.

Percent of parents in state prison who used drugs in the month before
the current offense, 1997

Marijuana

39

%

Cocaine/crack

27

Heroin/opiates

10

Stimulates

9

Depressants

5

Hallucinogens

3

Inhalants

1

In 1997 mothers in state prison were more likely than fathers to report
drug use in the month before their offense: 65% for mothers and 58% for
fathers. Cocaine/crack was the most common drug used: 45% for mothers
and 26% for fathers.

Nearly half of parents in federal prison reported using drugs in the
month before their offense and 3 in 4 had ever used drugs. Nearly a quarter
of parents in federal prison were under the influence of drugs when committing
their offense. Aside from marijuana use (higher among fathers), mothers
and fathers in federal prison reported similar drug use histories.